The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-20
A GREAT STEAMSHIP
A Revelation Promised to the Mari.
time World from Alexandra.
..,,. From, the Baltimore Sun

time World from Alexandra.
..,., From, the Baltimore Sun.
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Sept 14.-Just now
this quaint and ancient town promises to rise
suddenly into prominence by being selected
as the location of an enterprise which is to
be revelation in the construction of ocean
steamships. This embryo "boom," it is
hoped, will soon materialize and give to
Alexandria the Importance promised by
those who have taken the initiatory steps TO-
ward this end. Viewed in the light of the
explanations given by those who have es-
tablished themselves here as the representa-
tives of a great undertaking, it may be ac-
cepted that the results, if accomplished, will
at least bear testimony to the value of
American brains, courage and capital in
their relation TO our merchant marine.
About six months ago, as stated in the
Sun at the time, the Arrow Steamship Com
pany, of New York, purchased the shipyard
and marine railway property OF Agnew d
Sons. The Arrow Steamship Company
owns no steamships and has never operated
any, and practically as yet is an enterprise
on paper only. The name, however, will
apply to steamships to be built here in their
own yard and which, when completed will
revolutionize ocean travel, if the letter of
their intentions is carried out AS yet the
only evidence of the giant enterprise is the
completion OF the foundation for the keel
of the first steamship, which is to
be named the Pocahontas. She is to be a
five-masted vessel, constructed of iron and
steel. Her dimensions are: $40 feet
long over all, SIS feet s inches long between
perpendiculars, 40 feet beam and 46 feet
depth of hull from hurricane deck. She
will be fitted with compound engine, the
diameter of high pressure cylinder being 70
inches, and that of low-pressure 80 inches,
4. GxvAI -, 81 Hnkh N,cfT
These engines are estimated when going at
full speed, to indicate 1850 horse power
when cutting off steam at half stroke, but
when using steam at full stroke in the high
pressure cylinder, and using the expansion
due to the low-pressure cylinder, the en-
gines are expected to develop $4,000 indi-
Gated horse power There will be TWEEN ty
boilers each 101s feet wide by 1879 feet high,
arranged in pairs, twelve forward and eight
aft of the engine room. There are to be
six smokestacks. The coal bunke,s
will hold 1900 tons of coal or more
than two cargoeS of the average collier sail
ing from Baltimore The shaft is to be 220
feet long, "A inches i'll diameter, and to
weigh 100 tons. Contrary to all other ideas
in marine construction, the shaft bearings
will rest directly on the heel. The keel Is
to be $40 feet long, So feet deep at the bow,
1919 feat at the stern aud ~ inches thick,
making total weight of $50 tons. 1t will
consist of wrought iron plates, one inch
thick and one foot wide, laid together with
broken joints and bolted Solidly through.
With such narrow vessel as the Pocahontas
is destined to be it is essential to have weight
at the bottom, and rather than make the
keel lighter and put in permanent iron bal
last it is proposed to make the keel, on ac-
count of its rigidity and massiveness, serve
also as bedplate, sustain the weight OF the
gigantic engines, and keep in alignment her
ponderous shaft. Though the keel is made
so strong, complete reliance will not be
placed on it and the vessels outside walls
for longitudinal strength, as is the universal
case with all other steamships. In addi-
ton there viii be six vertical longitudinal
walls of steel and iron, through the entire
! length The whole interior construction is
! cellular throughout making the Pocahon-
tas non-sinkable and collision proof under
! all circumstances. She is to have sufficient
speed to cross the Atlantic in six days Her
! speed is placed at between twenty and
| thirty-fve miles an hour.
| In this unitarian age it is a difficult mat
| ter to suggest anything more elegant or
| comfortable in ocean travel than the steam
| ships that now form the fleets for passenger
and freight service. But a glance at the
drawings of the interior of the projected
! Pocahontas, to be seen in her designers
rooms at the Braddock House, indicates that
| the limit has not yet been reached in any
| thing anoat. The sanitary arrangements
! are excellent and leave nothing to be de
sired. The staterooms are each provided
with closets, permanent washstands and
bath, the latter converted into sofa when
| not in use. The floors will be of Georgia
marble covered with rugs; the
steel walls with drapelies, and from the
arched ceiling of each room will be a
| chandelier bearing electric lights. 1t is
calculated that 1000 electric lights will be
used throughout the vessel. Each state
room is to be ~ feet wide, 10 feet deep
aud l2L6 feet high. The beds can be con-
cealed in the daytime, sleeping-car fashion,
/ thereby converting the room into
a handsome parlor. There will be no inner
staterooms, all opening from the grand
saloon, which is 400 feet long without an
! obstruction, 1917 feet wide, 1215 feet high
It's walls are to be tastefully decorated, and
| in part covered with mirrors set in shallow
metal frames, and the decorative work
overhead, cornices, etc; in gllvanized IRON,
marble tiling, covered with hand.
some carpets. A theatre and
chapel will be transformations Of portions of
the saloon at the proper time A stage,
with all lis accessories, will be erected.
Rooms for the steerage passengers are each
10 accommodate sixteen persons. There viii
/ be hot and cold winter and bath I'm every
,oornl and pure air forced into them will
mako tho comforts of the now neglected
Storage voyagcr feature not hitherto at.
tempted. These are but a few. features Of
this new rival for ocean patronage. There
arc also involved principles In her machin-
ery which are not known as yet, and II Is
stated win mot be known until she makes her
debut for public consideration.
Mr. Robert NJ. Fryer Is the designer OF
the Pocahontas. He il an American engi-
neer and nm affablo little gentleman. who
tnkes Measure IN explaining the construc-
ton OF a ship which represents twenty-five